Compare towns

Augusta vs Ogunquit vs Saco vs Hallowell

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 min average).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureAugustaOgunquitSacoHallowell
People
Population
19,077
1,379Lowest
20,819Highest
2,592
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+10.3%
ME: +2.6%
+7.9%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
42.5±2.4Lowest
5% below ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
44.9±1.5
about the ME average
50.3±7.9
12% above ME
Ogunquit and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±2.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
16.7%±2.5
ME: 18.1%
13.2%±5.6
ME: 18.1%
Augusta and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.5%±2.6
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
18.5%±2.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
33.2%±7.1
ME: 22.4%
Ogunquit and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
43.5%
ME: 36.2%
52.5%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
5.2%±1.2
ME: 5.8%
6.4%±6.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
Hallowell and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$47,979±$3kLowest
36% below ME
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$92,241±$11k
23% above ME
$68,398±$10k
8% below ME
Ogunquit and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$201,000±$18kLowest
32% below ME
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$413,100±$17k
39% above ME
$295,300±$45k
about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$919±$79
19% below ME
—
$1,249±$385Highest
10% above ME
$890±$175Lowest
22% below ME
Saco and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,465Lowest
19% below ME
$4,473
47% above ME
$4,807Highest
58% above ME
$3,867
27% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.2%±8.3
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
50.3%±14Highest
ME: 48.4%
37.1%±17.9
ME: 48.4%
Saco and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
6.4%
ME: 10.7%
7.8%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
72.8%
ME: 74.3%
58.3%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
12 yrs older than ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1982Highest
5 yrs newer than ME
1938Lowest
39 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
24% below ME
26 minHighest
7% above ME
24 min
3% below ME
14 minLowest
43% below ME
Work from home
15.1%±3.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
19%±3.6
ME: 15.9%
19.8%±8.2
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #119 of 133 in ME — #38 of 133 in ME —
School district Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy — Saco Public Schools RSU 02
High school in town Cony — None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
17.9
— — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.